JP6185011B2 - Injection molding system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an injection molding system, and more particularly to an injection molding system that performs piping work for a temperature control hose that supplies a temperature control liquid for adjusting the temperature in the mold when the mold is replaced.

In order to stably mold a molded product with an injection molding machine, it is necessary to control the temperature of the mold with high accuracy in accordance with the characteristics of the resin or the like. For this reason, a path for flowing the temperature adjusting liquid is generally provided in the mold, and the temperature adjusting liquid is supplied from an external mold temperature controller or the like via a temperature adjusting hose so that the temperature in the mold can be adjusted.
At this time, it is necessary to attach and detach the temperature control hose etc. every time the mold is replaced, and furthermore, since the mounting position is different for each mold, it takes time to adjust the temperature control hose to different mounting positions. It was work.

Such removal and connection of the hose or the like is generally performed manually by an operator or using an automatic detachable mold exchanging system such as an auto coupler.
In Patent Document 1, the L-shaped positioning block of the molding die is pressed against the temperature control concentration block of the platen, thereby positioning the molding die and the platen, and the temperature control pipe and temperature control of the movable mold plate. A technique for reliably connecting the temperature control pipes of the concentration block is disclosed.

Patent Document 2 discloses a mold exchanging apparatus in which a temperature adjusting pipe or the like is connected to a mold on a mold exchanging apparatus and the mold of the molding machine is exchanged as it is.
Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for automatically connecting a temperature adjustment liquid supply device and a temperature adjustment liquid passage by an automatic connection mechanism as a mold temperature adjustment mechanism for adjusting the temperature of a mold in an injection molding machine. ing.

JP 2002-178378 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-44157 JP-A-4-86237

  Patent Document 1 discloses that a molding die and a platen are positioned, and then a hose from an external temperature controller is connected. However, how to connect the hose is clearly shown. It has not been. Here, even if the operator manually connects as shown in the prior art or connects using some device, a pipe port on the mold side is prepared at the connection port of the fixed temperature control hose. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the mold may be limited.

Patent Document 2 discloses that a temperature control pipe is connected to a mold on a mold stage of a mold exchanging apparatus, but the temperature control pipe is specifically connected by any method. Is not disclosed. Therefore, a pipe port on the mold side must be prepared at the connection port on the mold stage of the mold exchanging device, and the degree of freedom in design may be limited as in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1. was there.
Patent Document 3 discloses a technique related to a so-called automatic mold change system. However, the automatic mold change system is expensive, and the number of usable injection molding machines is limited to one corresponding to the automatic mold change system.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to connect a temperature control hose in an injection molding system without using a dedicated device, and to make it possible to attach and detach in a short time without the labor of an operator.

In the invention according to claim 1 of the present application, in an injection molding system including an injection molding machine that performs injection molding by temperature-controlling a mold, a mold temperature controller that supplies a temperature control medium that controls the temperature of the mold. A temperature control hose connecting the mold temperature controller to the mold, a mounting position detecting means for detecting a mounting position of the temperature control hose in the mold, and a mold holding the temperature control hose A temperature control hose attaching / detaching means comprising a robot for performing the attaching / detaching operation, and the temperature adjusting hose attaching / detaching means performs the attachment / detachment of the temperature controlling hose to the mold. Provided.
In the invention which concerns on Claim 1, the mounting position in the metal mold | die of a temperature control hose is detected, and the temperature control hose removal | desorption means which consists of a robot performs attachment and detachment of a temperature control hose to a metal mold | die, and an operator's effort is carried out. It is possible to omit and to attach and detach the temperature control hose in a short time. Further, since the operation pattern and the shape of the part holding the pipe can be changed in accordance with the mold without using a dedicated machine for exchanging the mold, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in designing the mold. .

In the invention according to claim 2 of the present application, there is provided a mounting position storage means for storing the mounting position detected by the mounting position detecting means, and the temperature control hose detaching means based on the mounting position stored in the mounting position storage means. The injection molding system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control hose is detached.
In the invention according to claim 2, the detecting position is detected by the detecting device by storing the mounting position detected by the mounting position detecting means in the mounting position storing means and detaching the temperature control hose based on the stored mounting position. It is possible to detect and store the mounting position in advance and perform detaching using the stored mounting position without performing the detaching while performing.

In the invention according to claim 3 of the present application, a molding condition data storage unit is provided, and the molding condition data storage unit includes molding condition data at the time of injection molding, and a mounting position of a mounting position of the temperature control hose in the mold. The injection molding system according to claim 1, wherein data is stored, and the temperature control hose detaching means detaches the temperature control hose based on the mounting position data.
In the invention according to claim 3, by storing the mounting position data of the mounting position of the temperature control hose together with the molding condition data at the time of injection molding, and by detaching the temperature control hose based on the mounting position data Even if the mounting position is not necessarily detected by the mounting position detecting means, the temperature control hose can be attached / detached based on the set mounting position data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the injection molding system according to the first or second aspect, wherein the mounting position detecting means is a camera that captures a moving image or a still image .

In the invention according to claim 5 of the present application, the injection molding system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the temperature control hose detaching means also serves as a molded product taking-out means from the mold. Provided.
In the invention according to claim 5 , since the temperature control hose detaching means also serves as the molded product take-out means, it is not necessary to separately provide the temperature control hose detaching means and the molded product take-out means, and the configuration can be simplified. It becomes.

In the invention according to claim 6 of the present application, a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the temperature control medium is provided, and the pressure sensor outputs a temperature control medium extraction completion signal when the pressure of the temperature control medium falls below a predetermined pressure. output to temperature adjusting hose desorption unit, the temperature control hose desorption means, injection according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that removing the temperature control hose after receiving a temperature regulating medium withdrawal completion signal A molding system is provided.
The invention according to claim 6 includes a pressure sensor that performs the pressure gauge side of the temperature control medium, and the temperature control hose after the temperature control medium pressure becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure and a temperature control medium removal completion signal is output. By removing the temperature control hose, it is possible to detect that the temperature control medium in the temperature control hose has come off, and to prevent the temperature control medium from leaking, and to attach and detach the temperature control hose.

In the invention according to claim 7 of the present application, a liquid leak detection camera that performs liquid leak confirmation of the temperature control medium is provided, and when a liquid leak is detected by the liquid leak detection camera, a liquid leak signal is output to the injection molding machine. An injection molding system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is provided.
In the invention according to claim 8 of the present application, the color changing sheet whose color changes due to the adhesion of the liquid is disposed at a position where the liquid drops when the liquid leaks, and the color change of the color changing sheet is detected by the liquid leak detection camera. An injection molding system according to claim 7 is provided.

In the invention which concerns on Claims 7 and 8 , by detecting a liquid leak with a liquid leak detection camera and outputting a liquid leak signal to the injection molding machine, the liquid of the temperature control medium at the time of desorption of the temperature control hose It becomes possible to detect the leak reliably. In particular, in the invention according to claim 8 , since the color change of the color change sheet is detected by the liquid leakage detection camera using the color change sheet whose color is changed by the adhesion of the liquid, the liquid itself is difficult to detect. Even in such a case, it is possible to detect the liquid leakage of the temperature control medium more reliably.

The invention according to claim 9 of the present application is characterized in that the injection molding machine stops injection molding based on reception of the liquid leakage signal and outputs a temperature control medium extraction signal to the mold temperature controller. An injection molding system according to claim 7 or 8 is provided.
In the invention according to claim 9 , since injection molding is stopped based on reception of the liquid leakage signal and a temperature control medium extraction signal is output to the mold temperature controller, automatic detection is performed when liquid leakage is detected. Thus, it is possible to stop the injection molding and to remove the temperature control medium.

Claim The invention according to claim 1 0 of the present application, further comprising a plurality summarized connecting means temperature control hose, the temperature control hose desorption means which is characterized in that a connection to the mold by the connecting means An injection molding system according to any one of 1 to 9 is provided.
In the invention according to claim 1 0, including a plurality summarized connecting means temperature control hose, by making a connection to a mold with said connecting means, for connecting to the mold collectively a plurality of temperature control hose It becomes possible.

In the invention according to claim 1 1 of the present application, comprising a temperature control hose desorption instruction switch on the operation panel or indicator of the injection molding machine, based on the operation of the temperature adjustment hose desorption instruction switch, the temperature control hose desorption means injection molding system according to any of claims 1 to 1 0, characterized in that performing the desorption of the temperature control hose to the mold is provided.
In the invention according to claim 1 1, an operation panel or temperature control hose desorption instruction switch on the display unit of the injection molding machine, based on the operation of the switch, by performing a desorption temperature control hoses into the mold, easily It is possible to give an instruction to remove the temperature control hose.

In the invention according to claim 1 2 of the present application, according to claim 1 to 1 1, further comprising a temperature control hose holding stand for holding the temperature control hose removed by the temperature control hose desorption means An injection molding system according to any of the above is provided.
In the invention according to claim 1 2, by having a temperature control hose holding stand for holding the temperature control hose, it is possible to hold in place a defined temperature control hose after removal, Thereafter, when the temperature control hose is attached again, the temperature control hose can be surely taken out and attached.

  According to the present invention, the connection of the temperature control hose in the injection molding system can be made detachable in a short time without using a dedicated device and without the labor of the operator.

It is the figure which showed the structure of the injection molding system of embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed another form of the desorption means of a temperature control hose and a coupling. In embodiment of this invention, it is the figure which showed the state which removed the temperature control hose. It is the figure which showed the operation panel provided on the injection molding machine.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an injection molding system according to the present embodiment. The injection molding machine 30 includes a control device 32 for controlling the operation of the injection molding machine 30 and a mold 34 for molding a molded product. Inside the control device 32, molding conditions for injection molding are provided. A storage unit 33 for storing data and the like is provided. Further, the mold temperature controller 10 adjusts the temperature of the temperature adjustment medium to adjust the temperature of the mold 34 and supplies the temperature adjustment medium to the mold 34 through the temperature control hose 12. As the temperature control medium, water is generally used, but oil may be used depending on the set temperature. The temperature control hose 12 and the mold 34 are connected using a coupler 36. A pressure sensor 14 is attached to the temperature control hose 12 to detect the pressure of the temperature control medium inside the temperature control hose 12.

  The robot 20 includes a hand 22 and a position detection camera 24 at the tip. The robot control device 26 is a device for controlling the operation of the robot 20 and is connected to the injection molding machine control device 32 to exchange information with each other. In addition, the robot control device 26 includes a robot storage unit 27 that stores the mounting position of the temperature control hose 12 and the like. Furthermore, 16 is a liquid leak detection camera, which captures an image of the vicinity of the connecting portion between the temperature control hose 12 and the mold 34 and confirms the liquid leak of the temperature control medium. The liquid leak detection camera 16 may be mounted on the tip of the robot 20 or disposed on a stand or the like separately from the robot 20 so as to image the vicinity of the connection portion between the temperature control hose 12 and the mold 34. it can.

In the injection molding system configured as described above, the temperature control hose 12 is connected to the coupler 36 of the mold 34 by the hand 22 provided at the tip of the robot 20. At the time of connection, the position detection camera 24 provided at the tip of the robot 20 is connected similarly to the hand 22 while confirming the mounting position of the temperature control hose 12. Further, instead of performing the connection while confirming the mounting position of the temperature control hose 12 with the position detection camera 24, the mounting position of the temperature control hose 12 is confirmed in advance with the position detection camera 24, and the robot controller 26 It is also possible to store the mounting position in the robot storage unit 27 and connect the temperature control hose 12 by reading the mounting position stored in the robot storage unit 27 at the time of connection. Further, the mounting position may be confirmed by the operator teaching the position to the robot 20 without using the position detection camera 24.

  In addition, the mounting position data is stored in accordance with the molding condition data for molding, which is stored in the injection molding machine storage unit 33 of the injection molding machine control device 32, and when the temperature control hose 12 is connected. It is also possible to read out the mounting position data stored in the injection molding machine storage unit 33 for connection. The mounting position data stored together with the molding condition data in the injection molding machine storage unit 33 may be imaged and stored in advance by the position detection camera 24 or may be molded as data without imaging by the position detection camera 24. You may make it memorize | store together with condition data.

  Further, the hand 22 used for connection of the temperature control hose 12 can be used as a molded product take-out means for a molded product molded in the mold 34 during an injection molding operation. In this case, the same hand 22 can be used, or the temperature control hose 12 is attached to the tip of the robot 20 in parallel with the hand for attaching / detaching the temperature control hose 12 and the hand for taking out the molded product. 12 can be attached and detached and the molded product can be taken out.

  The pressure sensor 14 measures the pressure of the temperature control medium in the temperature control hose 12 and confirms whether the temperature control medium is properly supplied and recovered from the mold temperature controller 10 to the mold 34. doing. Further, when removing the temperature control hose 12 connected to the mold 34, it is necessary to remove the temperature control medium in the temperature control hose 12. When the pressure of the temperature control medium is measured and it is detected that the pressure is equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure value, an extraction completion signal is output to the robot control device 26. In the robot 20, the temperature control hose 12 is removed after receiving the extraction completion signal. Further, when the extraction completion signal is output, it may be output after a predetermined time has elapsed since the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 14 becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure value. In this way, the extraction completion signal can be output in a state where the extraction of the temperature control medium in the temperature control hose 12 has been completed more reliably.

  The liquid leakage detection camera 16 confirms the liquid leakage of the temperature control medium by imaging the vicinity of the connection portion between the temperature control hose 12 and the mold 34. When liquid leakage of the temperature control medium is detected by the liquid leakage detection camera 16, a liquid leakage signal is output to the injection molding machine control device 32. The injection molding machine 30 that has received the liquid leakage signal stops the molding operation and outputs a temperature control medium extraction signal for extracting the temperature control medium to the mold temperature controller 10. The mold temperature controller 10 that has received the temperature control medium extraction signal stops the supply of the temperature control medium to the mold 34 and performs the temperature control medium extraction operation.

  Further, when the temperature control medium leaks from the vicinity of the connection portion between the temperature control hose 12 and the mold 34, the discoloration sheet 60 whose color is changed by the adhesion of the liquid is arranged at the position where the temperature control medium drops. May be. As the color changing sheet 60, for example, cobalt chloride paper that changes color from blue to red by the adhesion of a liquid can be used. Then, instead of imaging the liquid leakage of the temperature control medium in the vicinity of the connection portion between the temperature control hose 12 and the mold 34 by the liquid leak detection camera 16, the color change sheet 60 is imaged and the color change is detected. By detecting this, it is also possible to detect liquid leakage. In this way, liquid leakage can be reliably detected by detecting the discoloration sheet even when it is difficult to detect with the liquid leakage detection camera 16 using a transparent medium such as water as the temperature control medium. Is possible.

  In the present embodiment, the liquid leakage detection camera 16 and the position detection camera 24 are provided as separate cameras, but the position detection camera 24 is moved near the connection portion between the temperature control hose 12 and the mold 34. Accordingly, the position detection camera 24 may detect the liquid leakage of the temperature control medium.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing another embodiment of the temperature control hose and the joint detaching means. In this example, a plurality of temperature control hoses 12 are connected to a pedestal 38 using a coupler 36. The robot 20 may be used to connect the base 38 and the temperature control hose 12. After the temperature control hose 12 is connected to the pedestal 38, the pedestal 38 is connected to the mold 34 by the robot 20. With such a configuration, since the plurality of temperature control hoses 12 are gathered together by the pedestal 38 in advance, the plurality of temperature control hoses 12 can be connected by one mounting operation.

  FIG. 3 is a view showing a state where the temperature control hose 12 is removed in the injection molding system shown in FIG. When the temperature control hose 12 is removed by the robot 20, the temperature control hose 12 is placed on the temperature control hose holding stand 40. If it does in this way, it will become possible to hold | maintain the temperature control hose 12 after removing in the predetermined place, and when attaching the temperature control hose 12 again after that, the robot 20 will surely make the temperature control hose. 12 can be taken out and mounted.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing an operation panel 50 provided on the injection molding machine 30. The operation panel 50 includes a touch panel, and a detachment instruction button 52 is displayed on the operation panel 50. When the operator presses the detachment instruction button 52, a detachment instruction is output to the robot control device 26. When the temperature control hose 12 is not connected to the mold 34, the robot 20 that has received the detachment instruction has the temperature control hose 12. When the temperature control hose 12 is connected, the temperature control hose 12 is removed.

  In these embodiments, the robot 20 is used as the temperature control hose detaching means, but other devices may be used. However, when the robot 20 is used, the operation pattern and the shape of the part holding the temperature control hose can be changed according to the mold, so that the degree of freedom in the mold design can be increased. Further, by providing the robot 20 with a means for moving between machines, it becomes possible to cause a plurality of injection molding machines to perform the detaching operation of the temperature control hose by a single robot. Can be configured at low cost. In these embodiments, the temperature control hose is attached / detached by one robot, but the operation may be performed using a plurality of robots.

A collaborative robot can also be used as the robot. A force sensor or the like is attached to each place of the collaborative robot, and the detection result of the force sensor is connected to the control device of the collaborative robot. When the worker and the collaborative robot come into contact with each other and the detected value of the force sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control device stops the collaborative robot or operates the collaborative robot so that the detected value of the force sensor becomes small. Let This restricts the collaborative robot from exerting an excessive force on the worker.
By using such a collaborative robot, it is possible for the operator to check for liquid leakage from the temperature control hose by the operator while the robot is removing and attaching the temperature control hose. It is possible to efficiently perform the adjustment / removal work of the adjusting hose.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mold temperature controller 12 Temperature control hose 14 Pressure sensor 16 Liquid leak detection camera 20 Robot 22 Hand 24 Position detection camera 26 Robot control apparatus 27 Robot memory | storage part 30 Injection molding machine 32 Injection molding machine control apparatus 33 Injection molding machine memory | storage part 34 Mold 36 Coupler 38 Base 40 Temperature control hose holding stand 50 Operation panel 52 Detachment instruction button

Claims (12)

In an injection molding system equipped with an injection molding machine that performs injection molding by controlling the temperature of a mold,
A mold temperature controller for supplying a temperature control medium for controlling the temperature of the mold;
A temperature control hose connecting the mold temperature controller to the mold; and
A mounting position detecting means for detecting a mounting position in the mold of the temperature control hose;
A temperature control hose attaching / detaching means comprising a robot that holds the temperature control hose and performs the attaching / detaching operation with the mold, and
An injection molding system, wherein the temperature control hose is attached to and detached from the mold by the temperature control hose attaching / detaching means.   A mounting position storage means for storing the mounting position detected by the mounting position detection means is provided, and the temperature control hose detaching means detaches the temperature control hose based on the mounting position stored in the mounting position storage means. The injection molding system according to claim 1. A molding condition data storage unit is provided,
The molding condition data storage unit stores molding condition data at the time of injection molding and mounting position data of a mounting position of the temperature control hose in the mold,
The injection molding system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control hose detaching means detaches the temperature control hose based on the mounting position data.   The injection molding system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mounting position detecting means is a camera that captures a moving image or a still image. The injection molding system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the temperature control hose detaching means also serves as a molded product taking-out means from the mold . A pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the temperature control medium, and the pressure sensor outputs a temperature control medium extraction completion signal to the temperature control hose desorption means when the pressure of the temperature control medium falls below a predetermined pressure; The injection molding system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the temperature control hose detaching means removes the temperature control hose after receiving the temperature control medium extraction completion signal . The liquid leakage detection camera which performs the liquid leakage confirmation of the said temperature control medium is provided, If a liquid leakage is detected with this liquid leakage detection camera, a liquid leakage signal will be output to the said injection molding machine . The injection molding system according to any one of the above. 8. The injection according to claim 7 , wherein a color changing sheet whose color changes due to liquid adhesion is disposed at a position where the liquid drops when liquid leaks, and the color change of the color changing sheet is detected by the liquid leak detection camera. Molding system. 9. The injection molding according to claim 7 , wherein the injection molding machine stops injection molding based on the reception of the liquid leakage signal and outputs a temperature control medium extraction signal to the mold temperature controller. system. The injection molding according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , further comprising connection means for collecting a plurality of temperature control hoses, wherein the temperature control hose detachment means connects to the mold by the connection means. system. A temperature control hose attachment / detachment instruction switch is provided on an operation panel or display of the injection molding machine, and the temperature control hose attachment / detachment means is attached / detached to the mold based on the operation of the temperature control hose attachment / detachment instruction switch. The injection molding system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: The injection molding system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a temperature control hose holding stand for holding the temperature control hose removed by the temperature control hose detaching means .